POCT Flashcards
What is POCT?
POCT is the analysis of patient specimens outside the lab, near or at the site of patient care.
What is the aim of POCT?
The aim of POCT is to bring the test conveniently and immediately to the patient, enabling clinicians to support the timely diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of patients.
Where is POCT performed?
POCT can be performed in primary care, community clinics, pharmacies, dentists, GP surgeries, health centers, industrial medical centers, mobile units, polyclinics, care homes, A&E, ambulance service, cardiac units, coagulation clinics, dental clinics, diabetic clinics, hospital wards, intensive care units, operating theaters, and out-patient departments.
What are the quality issues to consider when performing POCT?
Selection of equipment, verification and validation of methods and equipment, training and competency, quality control and assurance procedures, documentation and record keeping, quality monitoring/audit, health and safety, risk management, and infection control.
What are the issues to consider in comparison with laboratory testing?
The benefit to the patient, cost-effectiveness, suitability for operation by non-laboratory personnel, and suitable environment for housing the equipment.
What quality assurance must be undertaken for each POCT device?
Precision: Internal Quality Control (IQC) - local, daily testing to ensure the same result is achieved (+/- 2SD)
Accuracy: External Quality Assurance (EQA) - samples of unknown value are provided by EQA schemes to all hospitals/clinics that use the device. This ensures similar results are obtained across the UK.
What is a dipstick for urinalysis?
A dipstick for urinalysis is a colourimetric method used to detect white blood cells, red blood cells, protein, ketones, glucose, nitrate, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and more in a urine sample. The colour change indicates the approximate concentration of each, and there is a key to indicate abnormal ranges.
What is a strip test for malaria?
A strip test for malaria is an immunochromatographic method used to detect the presence of malaria antigens in a blood sample. Two types are Parasight F and OptiMal.
What is a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test is an immunochromatographic method used to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in a urine sample. The test uses antigen-antibody capture on a test strip, and the urine sample can be taken at any time of day and soon after the period was due.
What is a blood glucose monitor?
A blood glucose monitor is an electrochemical method used to measure blood glucose levels. A drop of blood is placed on a cellulose strip coated with a reagent, and after a certain amount of time, the blood glucose reacts with the test strip to produce a chemical reaction that produces an electrical current. The charge produced is indicative of the amount of glucose in the sample, and the approximate blood glucose concentration can be determined.
What is Hemocue?
Hemocue is a point-of-care testing device that measures blood gases, hemoglobin, creatinine & estimated glomerular filtration rate (a measure of kidney function), sodium, potassium, and chloride.
What does the Roche Coag-u-chek measure?
The Roche Coag-u-chek measures INR in a peripheral blood sample (finger prick). INR is an estimation of blood clotting used for monitoring the dosage of oral anticoagulants such as warfarin.
What are some quality issues to consider in POCT?
Selection of equipment, verification and validation of methods and equipment, training and competency, quality control and assurance procedures, documentation and record keeping, quality monitoring/audit, health and safety, risk management, and infection control.
What are the governance issues to consider in POCT?
Quality assurance must be undertaken for each device, including precision through internal quality control (IQC) and accuracy through external quality assurance (EQA). Additionally, storage of equipment, patient preparation and sample collection, appropriate documentation and action of results, understanding error messages, health and safety issues including infection control, and basic device maintenance and cleaning should be addressed.
What are the benefits of dipstick urinalysis?
Dipstick urinalysis, which uses a colorimetric method, can detect various substances in urine such as white blood cells, red blood cells, protein, ketones, glucose, nitrate, urobilinogen, and bilirubin. The color change indicates approximate concentrations, helping to identify abnormal ranges.
